Conditions

Definition

Hearing loss is being partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears.

Alternative Names

Decreased hearing; Deafness; Loss of hearing; Conductive hearing loss

Considerations

Symptoms of hearing loss may include:

Certain sounds seem too loud

Difficulty following conversations when two or more people are talking

Difficulty hearing in noisy areas

Hard to tell high-pitched sounds (such as “s” or “th”) from one another

Less trouble hearing men’s voices than women’s voices

Problems hearing when there is background noise

Voices that sound mumbled or slurred

Other symptoms include:

Feeling of being off-balance or dizzy (more common with Ménière’s disease and acoustic neuroma)

Pressure in the ear (in fluid behind the eardrum)

Ringing or buzzing sound in the ears (tinnitus)

Causes

Conductive hearing loss (CHL) occurs because of a mechanical problem in the outer or middle ear.

The three tiny bones of the ear (ossicles) may not conduct sound properly.

Or, the eardrum may not vibrate in response to sound.

Causes of conductive hearing loss can often be treated. They include:

Buildup of wax in the ear canal

Damage to the very small bones (ossicles) that are right behind the eardrum

Fluid that stays in the ear after an ear infection

Foreign object that is stuck in the ear canal

Hole in the eardrum

Scar on the eardrum from repeat infections

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occurs when the tiny hair cells (nerve endings) that detect sound in the ear are injured, diseased, do not work correctly, or have died. This type of hearing loss often cannot be reversed.

Sensorineural hearing loss is commonly caused by:

Acoustic neuroma

Age-related hearing loss

Childhood infections, such as meningitis, mumps, scarlet fever, and measles

Ménière‘s disease

Regular exposure to loud noises (such as from work or recreation)

Use of certain medicines

Hearing loss may be present at birth (congenital) and can be due to:

Birth defects that cause changes in the ear structures

Genetic conditions (more than 400 are known)

Infections the mother passes to her baby in the womb (such as toxoplasmosis, rubella, or herpes)

The ear can also be injured by:

Pressure differences between the inside and outside of the eardrum, often from scuba diving

Home Care

You can often flush wax buildup out of the ear (gently) with ear syringes (available in drug stores) and warm water. Wax softeners (like Cerumenex) may be needed if the wax is hard and stuck in the ear.

Take care when removing foreign objects from the ear. Unless it is easy to get to, have your health care provider remove the object. Don’t use sharp instruments to remove foreign objects.

See your health care provider for any other hearing loss.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if:

Hearing problems interfere with your lifestyle

Hearing problems do not go away or become worse

The hearing is worse in one ear than the other

You have sudden, severe hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

You have other symptoms, such as ear pain, along with hearing problems

You have new headaches, weakness, or numbness anywhere on your body

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

The health care provider will take your medical history and do a physical exam.

Tests that may be done include:

Audiometry (a hearing test used to check the type and amount of hearing loss)

CT or MRI scan of the head (if a tumor or fracture is suspected)

Tympanometry

The following surgeries may help some types of hearing loss:

Eardrum repair

Placing tubes in the eardrums to remove fluid

Repair of the small bones in the middle ear (ossiculoplasty)

The following may help with long-term hearing loss:

Devices for hearing loss

Hearing aids

Learning techniques to help you communicate

Sign language (for those with severe hearing loss)

Cochlear implants are only used in people who have lost too much hearing to benefit from a hearing aid.